A Guide for Parents

A Guide for Parents

The William and Mary Counseling Center offers a range of psychological and counseling services. For example, we provide professional help in the following areas:

Assessment of developmental and clinical issues

Individual, couples, or group counseling

Crisis intervention

Psycho-educational presentations

Consultations regarding friends, roommates, family

A Parent’s Role

The staff of the Counseling Center know how valuable a resource and support parents and other caregivers are to college students. Researchers have found that close relationships and open communication with one’s parents help a student to adjust to college life, make effective career and relationship choices, and develop self-confidence and a sense of personal autonomy.

Parents probably know their son or daughter better than anyone else. It is likely that a parent may notice changes in mood or behavior that may be an early indication of emotional or psychological distress. Students tend to turn to their parents when making important decisions. A parent’s suggestion may help a student make the decision to seek counseling.

How to Help Your Student Consider Counseling

Suggest that your son or daughter attend one session before deciding whether counseling would or would not be helpful.

Except in the case of imminent danger to self or others, allow your son or daughter to refuse counseling. Your suggestion might still be under consideration for a later time or as a decision to be made privately.

Call the Counseling Center yourself to get information about services and how to make an appointment, for consultation about how to discuss the referral with your son or daughter, or for outside referral sources.

Confidentiality

The Counseling Center is required by law and professional ethics to protect the confidentiality of all contacts with students. Moreover, many students would not come to talk with us if they believed the nature of their discussions was shared with others. Therefore, we take our obligation to protect the confidentiality of our students very seriously. We are unable to communication with parents, faculty, or others about a student's counseling relationship unless they give us express written permission to do so, or unless they are under the age of 18.

Virginia law and professional ethics do allow or require us to communicate with others in some instances. If it becomes necessary to do so to ensure the student's, or someone else's safety we will make appropriate contact with parents and authorities. We will act in accordance with the law in all cases.

Appointments at the Counseling Center

Students may make an appointment or find out further information about our services by calling 221-3620 or by stopping by the Counseling Center at Blow Memorial Hall, Suite 240. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 12 Noon and 1:00 PM – 5 PM. In the event of an emergency during regular working hours, a student can either come to the office or call the office. During the academic year, the on call counselor may be reached after hours and on weekends by calling the Campus Police at 221-4596.